Lofberg (DD 759) - Naval Cruise Book

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Kiclzard Li Gardner Eammander, HSN Commander Richard C. Gardner, a native of Greenport, Long Island, graduated from New York State Maritime College Withga BMS Degree in September of 1950, at which time he was commissioned Ensign in the U.S. Navy. His first as s i gnme nt was that of Boat Group Commander aboard USS LATIMER QAPA-1523. Succeeding tours included Ops!PlansfClC and Navigator on the staff of Commander Amphibious Transport Squadron Ten, Weapons Officer in USS SIGOURNEY QDD-6435, Aide and Flag Lieutenant for Commander Naval Base, Subic Bay. He then studied weapons systems at the U.-S. Postgraduate School in Monterey, Califor- nia, where he earned a B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering. He then served successfully as Executive Officer of USS HULL QDD-9453 and USS COONTZ QDLG-93 and returned to the role of student at the Naval War College in 1963. Upon completion of his Command and Staff Course he joined the faculty at the War College. While on the faculty he completed the Naval Warfare Course at the War College and attended George Washington University earning a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs. Commander GARDNER assumed command of Uss .OFBERG QDD-7597 on 1 October 1966. On 3 February 1968 he departed this command to serve on the staff of Commander Seventh Fleet. Commander GARDNER is authorized to wear the Occupational Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Commander GARDNER was recently married to Miss Zita Marie Brown of Dickinson, North Dakota and SanffDiego, California. They are presently residing in Japan. rr .gig-L '3 :L 1 ,,.... ,- ., ,.... ' -S f'-- J .-L .,w,.a..

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F25 f :A -'P me 251 f' Al H L52-r I A.,-..-, ,, , ,A 3 Eff Ya Ei ii El I U Q2 1 5 fi 2 ,w Ei i Q H ,Z 5, I1 9 'A .4 Gi gl Pl fl , , ii 9 4 ,Cvfberg is' ffisfzfry The USS LOFBERG is named for Commander Gus BrynwolffLofberg in recognition of his conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy forces in World War II. On 4 September 1942, off Guadalcanal, Soloman Islands, Commander LOFBERG, as Commanding Officer of the USS LITTLE, challenged the numerically superior Japanese Naval force which was shel- ling American positions on the island. His ship scored numerous hits on the enemy vessels before it was spotlighted by two enemy destroyers. Caught in a curtain of fire, the LITTLE was set aflame. Commander LOFBERG was lost at sea during the battle. LOFBERG is a 2200 ton short hull destroyer of the SUMNER class. The keel was laid at San Francisco, California by the Bethlehem Steel Companyon 4 November 1943 and chris- tened. a year later for a cost of eight million dollars excluding armament. The LOFBERG com pleted her shakedown cruise too late to participate in World War II, but she was at Pearl Harbor on 9 August 1945 when the Japanese forces surrendered. In the fall of 1945, LOFBERG continued westward to Japan and assumed the duties of flag- ship for Commander Mine Squadron Three., who controlled the clearing of mines in the area. She also undertook patrol duty along the Chinese coast and frequently visited Sasebo, Tokyo, and Okinawa, with brief visits also to Tsingtao and Taku. After her first WESTPAC assign- ment LOFBERG returned to the states, arriving at San Francisco in March of 1946. . For her first stateside duty LOFBERG acted as training ship for the Naval Base at ,Treas- ure Island, San Francisco. She was .then assigned2tQIthe Inactive Reserve in the Third Fleet, based at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. In the early months of 1947, 'LOFBERG departed San Francisco and operated in Dan Diego waters for several weeks. She then returned to San Francisco to conduct' Naval Reserve Cruises, visiting Victoria, B.C., Juneau, Port Angeles, Seattle, Esquimalt Harbor, and Ketchican, Alaska. She also conducted gunnery exercises off Cape Flattery and off Tatoosh in the Puget Sound. In September of 1950, shortly after the United States had been committed in the Korean hostilities, LOFBERG, as flagship for Destroyer Squadron Seven, steamed for Korea and 0 Far Eastern waters with Destroyer Division 71. LOFBERG completed three tours of duty to the Far 'East during the Korean action, serving with fast carrier task forces off both coasts of Korea, providing naval gunfire support and patrolling the Straits of Formosa. On her first cruise in 1951, during the cold winter 'months of January and Eebruary, LOFBERG A joined the battleship MISSOURI in the bombardment of Hangnum, Kansong, and Kangnung on the east coast of Korea and escorted the Mighty Mo to the west coast of Korea and on to Inchon. Wonsan was included among the bombardment assignments during the second and third cruises. During the third cruise LOFBERG remained in Wonsan Harbor for six weeks while participating in the longest. naval seige in history. Sincie the cessation of hostilities in Korea, LOFBERG has served with the United States Far Eastern Forces on twelve occasions in addition to the Western Pacific tour which is covered on the adjoining pages of this cruise book. . In 1962 LOFBERG underwent-the Navy's Fleet rehabilitation and Modernization program QFRAM IIJ. At this time she was modernized and her service life extended several years at a fraction of the cost of a new ship. Among the instaliations added to LOFBERG were the DASH qDrone Anti-Submarine Helicopterb weapons system, Variable Depth Sonar, Combat Information Center, Anti-Submarine Warfare Center, as well as various electronic equip- V ment. ' I Since FRAM, LOFBERG's assignments have included several patrols on the Formosa Straits, fast carrier operations, including plane guarding for combat aircraft in Vietnam, a tour with the Pacific Fleet Hunter-Killer Group Alpha , Market Time patrols and Naval Gunfire Support missions in Vietnam. She has visited in addition to the Navy bases in Subic Bay, Philippines and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Midway and Guam, Yokosuka, Sasebo and Osaka, Japan, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung and Keeltmg, Taiwan. QQNEN 43 Q'-'TNQ P , 4765 01935 V21:AYi?',L.v, Q- ft, -. ',3,'L:,.,l,g?. gi 1--r iff: ,-- ,. v ,- . sig , ig' 3

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73 'lf iii ' I ff - 1 1.-f-1.4 , L. -3 f mg-1? if --'H-T04 - if , 1: -3'.,-,U-,L. ,Q '-.-1..1 -' g. ,wv:':f,g, 2- ,- ,-:Q 1:41, -J' '-wry.. -1-,-., - w.-rg, If-,I q,ffsi.-in. , ., -If '- grfizf'-ftayf.-z-E' 5 sz 125' ci1.:samZ'2?Z+.25+i: if.-izv?iii2.w4:aQLZ32:: ISf 5f'5. 'SNwfazf,-w.t4r2fAa.?.:1t1.al.'L.f.'f-iw - .11 -fLz4'.'-34.-msn'-E 3 Y ': 4 . 31 fi- , 1 Z I 1, me 43 , -3, I G ,-5. john 8. White E29 I Q FZ' ,N Eammaudcr, HSN E5 .Q .,,. if .-F Q1-2 T iii it fi' if - Commander John E. White, a native of Pasadena, California, graduated from the Califor- 1 nia, ,Maritime Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1952. After being commissioned ' Ensign, USN, in August of 1952, he served as Damage Control AssistantfNavigator aboard USS YANCY QAKA-935 , Executive OfficerfNavigator in USS KIOWA QATF-725 , and Gunnery Officer! Navigator in USS HARRY E. HUBBARD CDD-7483 . This was followed by a year as a student at General Line School, Monterey, and a tour as Computer Programer, Navy Electronics Lab- oratory, San Diego. He then served as Executive OfficerfNavigator of USS BEGOR QAPD-1277 and USS COOK QAPD-1305 . After attending Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, V he commanded USS SURFBIRD QADG-3835 . Prior to receiving orders to USS LOFBERG as 1 j Commanding Officer, Commander WHITE was Assistant Chief of Staff for Security and Intel- ligence at Naval Support Activity, Danang, and Officer in Charge of Naval Support Activity AE Detachment, Chu Lai. at Q 2 Commander WHITE took command of the LOFBERG- on 3 February 1968. He is author- E' I , ized to wear the National Defense Service fwith stary , Korean Servicefone starj , United Na- e tions Service, Vietnam Service Qtwo starj , Republic of Vietnam Campaign and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals. Commander WHITE is married to the former Phoebe Hayden of Newport Beach, Califor- nia. They reside in Corona Del Mar, California, with their two children, Rodman and Katherine. . 1 if li-f 4 5 L ii ,,. .., ,,A,,.,..-r.,. !--,-,-.1-1-- ---. N-1-:fff-W-fi -471 '-Af Tf :fi-' '-'j 'WFP - -H H - ,ff ., 1 ' I 'Q 'A